Calendar
∗Subject to change.
See the Announcements page for upcoming AP events and special announcements.
Week One and Two:
Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
The study of United States politics requires knowledge of the kind of government the Constitution established and, in particular, the concept of separation of powers and federalism. Understanding the latter involves knowledge of the historical situation at the time of the Constitutional Convention and a grasp of the ideological and philosophical traditions on which the framers drew. We will examine the works of James Madison and how his system of checks and balances compares with Montesquieu theory of separation of powers. We will also examine the following concepts: democratic theories, pluralist theory, majoritarianism, and the elitist theory.
Readings
Textbook: Wilson
Chapters 1 and 2
Supplemental: James Madison, Federalist Papers 10 and 51
Week Three:
Federalism
Focus questions: What are the powers of state and local governments in an era of new federalism
and devolution? What influence should the federal government have over state and local issues such as education, abortion, deregulation and the environment? We will examine how devolution has impacted programs such as Welfare and how federal grants and mandates have impacted the states and local governments.
Readings
Textbook: Wilson
Chapter 3
Supplemental: John D. Donohue, The Devil in Devolution,The American Prospect May 1, 1997, vol 8, issue 32, pp. 27—31
Weeks Four and Five
Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Focus questions: How do we come by our political beliefs? What are the sources of public opinion? What is political culture
? What does it mean to be a citizen? How do these political beliefs define who we are as citizens?
It is important for students to understand the variety of beliefs that Americans hold about their government, how these beliefs evolve and the processes by which they are transmitted—the family, school, media, etc. In addition, students need to understand what leads citizens to differ from one another in their beliefs and behaviors. We will examine political socialization and political identity as well.
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapters 4 and 5
Supplemental: Mark David Richards,Pilot or Autopilot? Over-exercising the Right Not to Vote,Public Perspective, January/February 2001, p. 15
UNIT EXAM FOLLOWS THESE FIVE CHAPTERS (1-5)
Weeks Six through Seven
Political Parties and Interest Groups
Focus questions: What is the difference between a Democrat and a Republican? What role do political parties and interest groups play in the policy making process? What does it mean to be a citizen? What causes apathy? Students will examine the history of the United States political party system, the functions and structure of parties, and the effects they have on the political process. Students will also study what interest groups do, how they do it, and how this influences the political process.
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapters 6, 7 and 9
Supplemental: Shelia Kaplan,When the Grass Has No Roots,U.S. News and World Report, October 9, 2000, p. 23.
Weeks Eight through Ten
Campaigns, Elections and the Mass Media
Focus questions:What role is played by party organizations, PACs and money in campaigns? What roles do these groups play in the electoral process? What role should they play? Should the present campaign system be overhauled and reformed? What role do the media play in elections and shaping public opinion? Is the media an impartial observer or an active participant in political elections and in the formation of public policy? We will examine how money plays an important part in the election process and whether the McCain-Feingold Act of 1995 has had any impact on the financing of elections. We will also examine the modern media’s role (Cable news, Internet Blogs, etc.) has changed the coverage of elections as well.
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapters 8 and 10
UNIT EXAM FOLLOWS THESE FIVE CHAPTERS (6-10)
Weeks Eleven through Fourteen
Institutions of the National Government
Focus questions:How is public policy made? Does the system work as intended? Does the system work for citizens today? Students become familiar with the organizations and powers of the three branches of the US Government. Students are expected to gain understanding of the formal and informal powers of these institutions and how they relate to one another. In addition, the ties between the branches of government and political parties, interest groups, public opinion, the media, and state and local government is expected.
Legislative Branch
How does Congress represent and reflect the interest and desires of the nation? Is congress representative of the nation as a whole? Is it the most efficient way of making policy? Compare and contrast the makeup of the House and the Senate.
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapter 11
Supplemental: George F. Will,Save Us from the Purists,Newsweek, February 17, 1997, p. 78.
Executive Branch
What are the formal and informal powers of the presidency? How does the president use these powers to influence policy? Is the president too powerful in comparison to the other branches?
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapter 12
Supplemental: Richard Brookhiser,Is This Any Way to Pick a President?,The Wall Street Journal, February 2, 2000, p. A26.
Week Fifteen
Judiciary, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Focus questions: What role do the Courts play in interpreting the Constitution and implementing policy? Are the courts guilty,
as some critics have charged of supplanting the legislative and executive branches from the bench? What is the evolving relationship between the courts and civil rights?
What constitutes free speech? How does the national Bill of Rights apply to the states? Do the Courts legislate from the bench?
This study involves an analysis of the workings of the Supreme Court and an understanding of its most significant decisions. Students examine constitutional interpretations of freedom of speech, assembly, and expression, the rights of the accused, and the rights of minority groups. We will also cover all of the important Supreme Court rulings that could be on the AP exam and the very controversial topic of judicial activism.
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapters 14, 18 and 19
Supplemental: Johnsen, Dawn,Tipping the Scale,Washington Monthly, July 1, 2002.
UNIT EXAM FOLLOWS THESE FIVE CHAPTERS (11, 12, 14, 18 and 19)
Week Sixteen
Public Policy
Focus questions: What are the specific issues addressed in public policy making? Define an Iron Triangle,
does it exist and if so how does it influence policy implementation? Who controls the bureaucracy? Does a largely permanent professional bureaucracy serve democracy? Who sets policy for our nation?
The final area of study involves an analysis of government policy and the making of that policy. Students will examine economic, welfare, foreign, military and environmental policy that the government sets forth and attempts to implement or enforce.
Readings
Textbook:Wilson
Chapters 13 and 15
Supplemental: Max Weber,Theory of Social and Economic Organization, Talcott Parsons, ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1974, pp. 51 – 52.
Week Seventeen through Eighteen
Review for the AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam and in-class final exam
Final Exam (10% of Final Grade, exactly like a Unit Exam)
